Conservation project gives endangered birds chance at survival

With less than 50 birds left in the wild, the Orange Bellied Parrot is on the brink of extinction, but there may still be hope.

Jocelyn Hockley with 15 day old Orange-bellied parrots which were hatched as part of a conservation program. Picture: Matt Thompson

• Exhausted and stranded pelican nursed back to health
• Orphaned baby koala dies
• Tiny plovers look like ‘eggs on legs’

With less than 50 birds left in the wild, the Orange Bellied Parrot is on the brink of extinction, but there may still be hope.

More than 300 of the rare parrots are now successfully living in captivity, and residents are invited to learn about the conservation project at a meeting next month.

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment officer Jocelyn Hockley will attend the Macarthur Aviary Bird Club’s next meeting as a guest speaker.

Ms Hockley has witnessed the species’ fight for survival first hand, and will update residents on Tasmania’s Orange Bellied Parrot program and how the birds have been faring in captivity.

This will be the first time Ms Hockley has addressed residents in the Macarthur area, and she hopes to help them engage with the project and share information on the program’s progress.

The Orange Bellied Parrot is one of the most endangered bird species in Australia. Picture: Matt Thomson

“The major problem that the Orange Bellied Parrot faces is habitat loss and feeding in the wild,” she said.

“These little birds like to live within 10km of the coastline and sadly that’s also where we like to live.

“The captive program has been wildly successful, with a lot of work done by a lot of partners.”

The Orange Bellied Parrot program was started by Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment in 1986.

The bird is listed as endangered under the Federal Act and the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act of 1995, and is one of the most endangered bird species in Australia.

To protect existing habitat and ensure maximum food resources are available, buttongrass habitats need to be burned every 3-13 years and the birds need to be protected from exotic predators such as cats.

The Macarthur Aviary Bird Club will meet at 8pm on Tuesday September 6 at the Catholic Church Hall on Edgar St Macquarie Fields.

Details: 4648 2796